'Borrowing' from a legend

The Pinckney Family includes (from left) Tim, Pete, Dick and Pat. In the front are Chris and Leo Pinckney.Photo courtesy of Peter Pinckney

By Ormie King
Contributing writer

Today's legends of Auburn are Chris and Leo Pinckney and their family.

Leo, who had an illustrious 60-year career as an Auburn sports writer, and who was also known as “Mr. Baseball,” passed on Nov. 20, 2006, one day before Auburn High’s football team, whom Leo loved to write about, won the state championship at the Carrier Dome in a thrilling victory. How he would have loved to have been there. But I’m sure his spirit was hovering over the dome and played a part in the victory.

Leo and I were members of the Auburn Athletic Hall of Fame committee, and his vast knowledge of our Auburn sports community was invaluable.

Just recently his lovely wife, Chris, also passed on. She was a delightful woman, who as a RSVP van driver, I would pick up every week when she went to Meals on Wheels to help out.

After Leo died, Chris still went to Meals on Wheels, and one day she told me that Leo had so many clothes and if she gave them to me. She asked if I minded dropping them off at the Holy Family Clothes Closet. I said sure, and she gave me several bags which I told her I would drop off, which I did, but among them were four tartan plaid, button down shirts which were my favorites, so I tried them on and they fit fine. I never told Chris I kept the shirts, but I was proud to be wearing Leo’s shirts, as I could never fill his shoes.

Turn the clock ahead and Mt. Carmel was having a huge 50-year reunion for all their classes and they asked me to put up a photo display for them. I said sure, and my brother-in-law, Jerry Wetherby, said he would help me. We were setting it up and Jerry was admiring my/Leo’s plaid shirt and I told him how I got it and felt guilty I never told Chris I had them. He laughed, but then not known to me, was that Jerry spotted Peter

Pinckney away from our photo display and he went over and told Peter the whole story.

Later, Peter strolled over to our display to say hello, as he’s been a lifelong friend, and he says “How’s everything going?” and I responded fine, and then he adds “Boy, you sure look great in my dead father’s shirt!” My face dropped and he laughed; I wanted to kill my brother-in-law, Jerry.

Anyway, Chris died recently and Peter called me to tell me that his dad had a tremendous collection of photos and sports memorabilia, and would I like to have it. I couldn’t answer fast enough, so I’m very appreciative of Peter and his family for this great collection. I will house and show it around the community at the following places, so you can all enjoy them: the local History Room at the Cayuga Community College library; Central Health Building; Curley’s Restaurant; Balloon’s Restaurant; Daut’s Restaurant and Auburn City Hall.

So, Chris and Leo, forgive me for wearing your shirts, but the whole community of Auburn misses you. Thanks to you both, and your family, for being legends of Auburn.